Decision Report 201806843

Summary

C complained on behalf of their sibling (A) who is a Type 1 diabetic. A was admitted to hospital twice following hypoglycaemic (low blood sugar) episodes. The second admission took place via A&E. The discharge letter for A's second admission described A as being 'anorexic' (an eating disorder where individuals feel a need to keep their weight as low as possible) and having 'learning difficulties'. A, and A's family, complained about the decisions taken to discharge A, about the treatment A received at A&E, that the board did not perform tests or investigate A's condition during A's second admission and about the descriptions of A included in the discharge letter.

We took independent advice from an appropriately qualified adviser. We found that that the decisions to discharge A had been reasonable, that A had been provided reasonable treatment within A&E, that A's management during the second admission had been reasonable and that the board's inclusion of the descriptions A took issue with in the second discharge letter were reasonable. We did not uphold the complaints.